Local breeder with nearly 100 dogs found guilty of animal cruelty

Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 4:36 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 9:11 p.m.

The Brittany spaniels belonging to a breeder in Choupic — who was found guilty of animal cruelty, failure to vaccinate and violating the noise ordinance — must be inspected by a parish veterinarian, a Lafourche parish judge decided Thursday.

Based on that veterinarian's report, Judge Buddy Larose could order that some or all of the dogs be seized, Assistant District Attorney Kristine Russell said.

Still, even if Larose decides Chris Michot is able to care for his dogs, Michot's probation officer and the parish veterinarian must still inspect his property during his two-year probation, Russell said.

Michot was fined $669.50, Russell said. Larose found him guilty of five counts of violating the parish noise ordinance, 32 counts of failure to vaccinate and one count of cruelty to animals. If he violates his probation, he could go to jail.

The animal advocates present for the verdict, some of whom were present when deputies charged Michot Aug. 22, said their only concern was that his dogs ­— an estimated 85 to 100 living just outside his Choupic trailer — be taken care of.

“Once the vet inspects the dogs, we'll have a better picture of if the dogs are very ill, very healthy, well kept,” said Cassandra Adams, vice president of the Humane Society's Lafourche chapter. “All we can see is what's over the fence.”

Advocates with the Lafourche Chapter of the Louisiana Humane Society and We Stand Bayou Animal Rescue said they told Michot's lawyer they could help him take care of the dogs for free in the future.

“We'll donate food, time, we'll clean,” said Dani Morgan, who founded We Stand Bayou. “We'll pass no judgment.”

Witnesses testified in trial that Michot keeps some dogs in one of six kennels. Others are chained to posts, and a few roam freely.

The state animal-cruelty law does not specify how many dogs can be on a certain square-footage of property or how many dogs can be in a kennel. However, it does say dogs must have shelter, which Michot did not provide, according to deputies' 2012 report.

The noise ordinance says dogs cannot bark for more than 10 minutes continuously or over 30 minutes intermittently. On the trial's first day, prosecutors played a video of Michot's dogs barking for more than 30 minutes. The trial began March 14 and continued Tuesday through Thursday.

Adams said she is concerned that although the dogs may soon get more care, some of them may still have to be killed if they're seized because they're sick or not socialized.

But the local Humane Society President Pamela George, whose calls to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office partially led to Michot's charges, said she thinks all Michot's Brittany spaniels can be rehabilitated.

“There are a lot of people out there who are willing to help,” George said.

George and Adams said they want most of the dogs to find homes, rather than stay with Michot.

“We want them to be healthy. We want them to be seeing a vet. ... I think he needs less dogs because I think it's very, very hard for one man to keep so many dogs,” Adams said, citing her own difficulty caring for five.

She also said the parish shelter struggles to keep a similar number of dogs that Michot owns with a staff of six people.

The Lafourche Parish branch of the Humane Society has not yet received permission to assist Michot, but George said it will cost a lot of money to do so if it does. Visit www.humanesocietylc.com for donation and volunteer information.

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.

<p>The Brittany spaniels belonging to a breeder in Choupic — who was found guilty of animal cruelty, failure to vaccinate and violating the noise ordinance — must be inspected by a parish veterinarian, a Lafourche parish judge decided Thursday.</p><p>Based on that veterinarian's report, Judge Buddy Larose could order that some or all of the dogs be seized, Assistant District Attorney Kristine Russell said.</p><p>Still, even if Larose decides Chris Michot is able to care for his dogs, Michot's probation officer and the parish veterinarian must still inspect his property during his two-year probation, Russell said.</p><p>Michot was fined $669.50, Russell said. Larose found him guilty of five counts of violating the parish noise ordinance, 32 counts of failure to vaccinate and one count of cruelty to animals. If he violates his probation, he could go to jail.</p><p>The animal advocates present for the verdict, some of whom were present when deputies charged Michot Aug. 22, said their only concern was that his dogs ­— an estimated 85 to 100 living just outside his Choupic trailer — be taken care of.</p><p>“Once the vet inspects the dogs, we'll have a better picture of if the dogs are very ill, very healthy, well kept,” said Cassandra Adams, vice president of the Humane Society's Lafourche chapter. “All we can see is what's over the fence.”</p><p>Advocates with the Lafourche Chapter of the Louisiana Humane Society and We Stand Bayou Animal Rescue said they told Michot's lawyer they could help him take care of the dogs for free in the future.</p><p>“We'll donate food, time, we'll clean,” said Dani Morgan, who founded We Stand Bayou. “We'll pass no judgment.”</p><p>Witnesses testified in trial that Michot keeps some dogs in one of six kennels. Others are chained to posts, and a few roam freely.</p><p>The state animal-cruelty law does not specify how many dogs can be on a certain square-footage of property or how many dogs can be in a kennel. However, it does say dogs must have shelter, which Michot did not provide, according to deputies' 2012 report.</p><p>The noise ordinance says dogs cannot bark for more than 10 minutes continuously or over 30 minutes intermittently. On the trial's first day, prosecutors played a video of Michot's dogs barking for more than 30 minutes. The trial began March 14 and continued Tuesday through Thursday.</p><p>Adams said she is concerned that although the dogs may soon get more care, some of them may still have to be killed if they're seized because they're sick or not socialized.</p><p>But the local Humane Society President Pamela George, whose calls to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office partially led to Michot's charges, said she thinks all Michot's Brittany spaniels can be rehabilitated.</p><p>“There are a lot of people out there who are willing to help,” George said.</p><p>George and Adams said they want most of the dogs to find homes, rather than stay with Michot.</p><p>“We want them to be healthy. We want them to be seeing a vet. ... I think he needs less dogs because I think it's very, very hard for one man to keep so many dogs,” Adams said, citing her own difficulty caring for five. </p><p>She also said the parish shelter struggles to keep a similar number of dogs that Michot owns with a staff of six people.</p><p>The Lafourche Parish branch of the Humane Society has not yet received permission to assist Michot, but George said it will cost a lot of money to do so if it does. Visit www.humanesocietylc.com for donation and volunteer information.</p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>